1. What do we mean by autonomy?

Language learning, and therefore teaching, is no longer limited to increasing language skills, knowledge and usage for communicative purposes. It also includes teaching learners ways of learning so that they become more efficient as learners. They can develop techniques which continue to support their long-term efforts after they leave school. I his includes paying attention to learner confidence and learning competence. It means we need to consider how learners learn and not just what they learn. The process is as important as the product.

I Why is autonomy important?

Showing learners how to learn independently of the teacher increases their belief in themselves, as learners. In turn, it helps to boost learners' self-esteem and their confidence about their own abilities to learn languages (which was so successful when they learned their mother tongue). We can also help them become more aware of the ways they learn so they develop efficient learning strategies and become more competent learners. This will help our learners learn better.

II How can we encourage autonomy?

The teacher has an important role in encouraging; a positive learning atmosphere in which learners are actively engaged and prepared to take risks with their language and to think individually. Teachers can encourage this by:

- using active and inductive ways to encourage learners to think, guess, and predict meanings from the familiar contexts created / presented. This is in preference to just telling learners new meanings / rules, without giving them a chance to use available clues

- encouraging learners to integrate their previous knowledge and to use their existing understandings to experiment and to work out to construct their understanding of new items. This is in preference to doing set, isolated practice exercises

- giving opportunities for learners to work autonomously so they experience the chance to organize themselves independently of the teacher, reinforce their confidence in themselves and their competence as learners, both individually and collaboratively. This is in preference to relying solely on the teacher, which results in a dependency culture

2. What is learner self-esteem?

Self-esteem is the value we place on ourselves. If there is a gap between what we think of ourselves and what we would like to be, then we say our self-esteem is low. Children often develop low self-esteem from negative responses from other people. Instead we need to ensure positive feedback and a sense of being respected (from praise, acceptance, being listened to and not laughed at, being understood, contributing ideas which are valued). This can increase enjoyment and encourage learners to learn by experimenting with language.

I How can teachers raise learner self-esteem?

Self-esteem can be developed by:

- good teacher-learner relationships

- ensuring success through careful planning and monitoring in the classroom having high expectations of learners.

Further, it is also beneficial to encourage learners to reflect on and assess their own abilities. Such self-awareness gives them knowledge about how to learn successfully (which techniques work for them) and therefore gives greater confidence about their own competencies.